Crane structure.



No. al. Patented DG?. I6, |900. 1l. W. SEAVER.

CRANE STRUCTURE'. (Application 'leinay 31, Y1899.)

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J. w. sEAvEH. i CRANE STRUCTURE` (Application led May 31, 1899.)

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CRANE' STRUCTURE.

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No. GEWUEI. Patented 0st. I6, l900.

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CRANE STRUCTURE.

(Application med May 31, 1899A.)

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JOHN lV. SEAVER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSlGNOR 'lO 'll-IE VELLMAN- SEAVER ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CRANE STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660.031. dated October 16. 1900.

Application led May 3l, 1899. b'erial No. 718,859. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

lSe it known that l, JOHN WV. SEAVER, a ciizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, have invented certain 11nprovements in Crane Structures, of which the following is a speciiication.

One object of myinvention is to so construct a crane as to save room and reduce cost to a minimum, a further object being to facilitate the handling ot' material by the crane and to so distribute the strains that the fixed frame work may be of light construction. These objects l attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse section of a crane constructed in accordance with my invention and intended for shipyard-work. Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ot' part of the xed structure for the support of the crane. Figs. 4, 5, and o' are views on a larger scale of parts of said fixed structure, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a special form ot crane structure embodying my invention.

In many cases, especially in Shipyards, where the spaces between the berths for the ships are narrow, it is necessary to economize room to the utmost, and on account ot` the extreme length and height of the fixed structure the greatest economy in construction must be observed in order to keep the expense within reasonable bounds. My present invention has therefore been devised with the view of economizing both in cost and in space and with the further view of employing a series of traveling cranes which can readily pass each other, the strain of the load being transmitted to the fixed structure in such manner that the latter is best calculated to withstand such strain. With these objects in View the central supporting structure of the crane is composed of two parallel lines of vertical posts A, the posts of one row being connected to those ot' the other by means of horizontal braces B and diagonal braces C. The posts are also connected to each other by longitudinal bracing comprising horizontal girders or stringers F, G, H, and O and diagonal braces N, these horizontal longitudinal girders or stringers at one side of the structure being also connected to those at the opposite side by means of i ransverse braces l au-.l diagonal braces I. Attached to the lowermost transverse braces are lines of stringers or tracks D, forming a runway for a trolley E, which is used for handling material and for transi porting it throughout the length of the central supporting structure. The girders F, G, and l-I carry tracks upon which traverse upper and lower bracketed walkingcranes J J and K K, each provided with vertical and horizontal braces, so as to impart lo it the rigidity necessary to enable it to withstand the strains to which it is subjected. Each of the upper cranes J has upper rollers d, intermediate rollers b, and lower rollers c, the upper rollers bearing outwardly upon a rail a, carried by the upper girder F, the intermediate rollers Z) bearing vertically upon a rail b, carried by the girder G, and the lower rollers c pressing inwardly upon a rail c', likewise carried by said intermediategirder G. Each of the lower cranes K has upper rollers d, intermediate rollers f, and lower rollers g, the upper rollers pressing outwardly upon a rail d', carried by thel girder G, the intermediate rollers f pressin g inwardly against a railf, carried by the girder H, and the rollers g pressing downwardly upon a supporting-rail g', carried by brackets g2 below said girder H. It will thus be seen that either crane can be traversed lengthwise of the central fixed structure throughout the full extent of the same and the upper and lower cranes can readily pass each other. The lower cranes K are shorter than the upper cranes J, and each crane has a traveling trolley T, so that material can be readily delivered to any part of the hull of a ship such as is represented in outline by dotted lilies in Fig. l. The lower and shorter cranes K have greater lifting capacity than the upper cranes, and because of their shorter length and of their lesser height above the base of the central supporting structure they exert less strain upon the latter than the upper cranes J. Hence the lower cranes K are available to handle keel-blocks and the heavier portions of the hull, while the upper and longercranes J can be employed to place in position the plates and lighter portions of the hull.

IOO

If desired, additional cranes can be mounted upon each of the runways, so that in place of the four cranes shown in the drawings eight or-more may be used. Y

By the system of bracing employed the strains exerted upon the central structure by the traveling cranes are taken up and distributed over as large a portion ofsaid fixed central structure as is necessary to properly provide for said strains, the uplifting tendency upon one post being transferred to the adjacent posts by means of the vertical longitudinal braces, while the horizontal strains are transferred by means of the horizontal lateral braces and transformed from strains in the plane of the crane rails or girders to strains at angles to the same, which are distributed over the entire length of the runways by means of the combination of horizontal lateral and diagonal braces. By thus distributing over a large portion of the structure strains which would otherwise be localized I am enabled to secure the necessary strength and rigidity in the fixed supporting structure and yet retain desirable qualities of lightness and consequent economy of cost in the latter.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a construction in which the upper portion of the fixed supporting structure is contracted or made in pyramidal form, so as to provide for the use of upper cranes J of the cantaliver type.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of a fixed longitudinal structure composed of parallel rows of posts, longitudinal girders and diagonal braces connecting the posts of each row, and transverse horizontal and diagonal braces connecting the posts of one row to those of the other row, with a traveling crane mounted so as to move longitudinally on runways carried by one of the rows of posts, said crane projecting laterally outward beyond said row of posts, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a fixed longitudinal structure lcom posed of' parallel rows of posts, the longitudinal girders and diagonal braces connecting the posts of each row, and transverse horizontal and diagonal braces connecting the posts of one row to those of the other row, with traveling cranes mounted so as to move longitudinally on said longitudinal structure, one of said cranes being mounted on runways carried by one row of posts and the other crane being mounted on runways carried by the other row ot' posts, and each crane projecting laterally outward from the row of posts upon which it is mounted, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a fixed longitudinal supporting structure having three lines of longitudinal rails, with a laterally-projecting crane having three sets of Wheels running upon said rails, one set of wheels pressing out-- wardly, a second set pressing inwardly, and a third set pressing downwardly upon their respective rails, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a fixed vertical and longitudinal structure having a contracted or pyramidal top with a laterally-proj ecting traveling crane having wheels adapted to runways on said fixed structure, the upper runways being mounted upon the contracted top of said structure, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. SEAVER.

Witnesses:

C. W. GoMsTooK, E. O. WooLGAR. 

